Thriving and inclusive communities

Mayor Avula applauded the passage of RES. 2026-R033, which directs the administration to establish a Trust Policy. A trust policy defines the ways the City of Richmond interacts with the federal government, including clarifying and limiting the ways information is shared between local and federal governments and codifies the City’s existing practice that anyone, regardless of status, is entitled to safety and access to city services.

“I am grateful to Councilmember Nicole Jones’ and many others who have committed to developing the City’s Trust Policy. Many cities around the country have used a Trust Policy to build the level of trust in the way that their government serves immigrant communities. By clearly defining how information is shared and safeguarded, we are reinforcing our commitment to safety and dignity for all of our residents. I look forward to sharing more about the Trust Policy in the coming weeks,” said Mayor Danny Avula.

“This resolution represents meaningful progress in ensuring our immigrant communities feel protected and respected,” said Councilmember Nicole Jones. “The Trust Policy is just the beginning. Mayor Avula and his administration understand that saying we are an inclusive, welcoming city that prioritizes safety isn’t enough. We have to build the infrastructure so that trust can flow freely, nourishing everything we do in the city.”

A thriving and sustainable built environment

Solar ordinances

“I’m disappointed in the outcome of tonight’s actions on the solar ordinances. We had an extraordinary opportunity before us to reduce the City’s long-term energy costs, increase the use of renewable energy, and advance Richmond’s commitment to a more sustainable and resilient built environment through a solar power purchase agreement. We listened to hours of testimony from both experienced subject matter experts and ordinary residents who agreed that our proposal was good for the environment, good for taxpayers, and good for the City of Richmond. It is extremely unfortunate that the majority of Council was not able to find a way to saying yes to this opportunity.

Despite that, it was incredibly inspiring to see so many climate and renewable energy advocates such as the Community Climate Collaborative, Bridging the Gap, the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Southside ReLeaf, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, Climate Changemakers RVA, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and many others come out and support the City’s RVAgreen 250 goals. The future of Richmond is in amazing hands with these advocates like these.

Actions have consequences, and City Council’s action tonight will make it harder to achieve the City's sustainability goals.” — Mayor Danny Avula

Master Plan Amendments

City Council also approved three Mayor Avula-sponsored amendments to Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth Master Plan (“Master Plan”). Together, the amendments bring major citywide planning efforts under Richmond’s Master Plan. They include:

• ORD. 2026-208: The Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan (CHSP), which establishes goals for identifying, recognizing, and safeguarding the City’s cultural and historic assets.
• ORD. 2026-209: The Richmond Connects Strategic Plan, which creates safer, more equitable multi-modal transportation plans for Richmonders
• ORD. 2026-210: Richmond INSPIRE, the master plan for the City’s parks and recreational spaces, which creates a transparent, community-driven vision for parks and recreational spaces in the City

"These amendments matter because they will become a part of how we evaluate whether policies, city projects, or zoning changes align with the master plan. We have abundant historic and cultural resources in Richmond, and the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan will help us identify the cultural resources that we haven't yet documented or recognized for their significance to our community," said Commissioner Burt Pinnock, City of Richmond Planning Commission.

“Richmond has been delivering on its mission to create safer streets for everyone, particularly vulnerable populations. The ability to have a car-lite or car-free lifestyle is a building block of equitable transportation, which is why you’ll continue to see RDOT prioritize access for people walking, using transit, and riding bikes and scooters,” said Andy Boenau, Director, RDOT. “We’re proud to be delivering projects that reflect a thriving city.”

“Richmond INSPIRE gives our community a shared vision for the future of parks, recreation, and public spaces, one shaped by the voices and aspirations of Richmond residents,” said Chris Frelke, Director of Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “Incorporating INSPIRE into Richmond 300 makes that vision part of how we plan, invest, and build a stronger, more connected Richmond for generations to come."

Thriving Families

Constitutional Amendments

On Council’s passage of RES. 2026-R032, Mayor Avula said, “I am so proud to support this resolution. Richmond is a city for all people, and it is incredibly important that the Constitution of the Commonwealth reflect that. Reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and voting rights for formerly incarcerated Richmonders are essential for dignity and equality.

Richmond voters, like all Virginia residents, will have the opportunity to vote on these three constitutional amendments during the General Election. To learn more, visit https://www.rva.gov/elections/nov-3-election

This weekend, Richmond lost an incredible leader, laborer, and friend. Jim Ukrop’s influence on the greater Richmond community has been profound. At a time when many business leaders found it easier to disengage from the city and its issues, Jim believed deeply in the importance of Richmond, and poured his time, energy, and resources into charting its course for the future.

I spent more than a decade on the Communities In Schools Board with Jim. I got to see firsthand his passion for supporting our school system and investing in our teachers, students, and families. In fact, Jim was one of the very first people to suggest to me that I should consider running for mayor one day—almost 12 years ago! While the idea seemed completely preposterous to me at the time, in this, and so many other things, Jim could often see what others could not. Richmond is a better city for it.

Jim poured himself into countless efforts, always helping open doors for others, and has had a tremendous hand in helping create the growing, vibrant Richmond of today. We celebrate a life well lived, and trust that Jim’s legacy of engagement, generosity, and compassion will inspire the next generation of community leaders in our city.

Hey Richmond, It’s your Mayor, Danny 

As mayor, my primary responsibility is the safety and wellbeing of Richmond Residents. 

As it relates to public safety, there are so many things we have gotten right –  

• community policing 
• neighborhood association partnerships 
• critical incident briefings about officer-involved shootings 
• cracking down on unregulated vape shops through Operation Vaporize 
• double digit reductions in major crimes... 

the list goes on  

Over the last year, the issue of how we use License Plate Reader Technology, and particularly our relationship with a company called Flock has been an increasing issue of public concern, here in Richmond, and across the nation.   

I have been very consistent about saying that our choice to use this technology is because i believe the benefits to public safety outweigh the risks it poses to our community 

But I have also been very consistent about saying that it is not a closed issue, and that I will always remain open to hearing from the people of Richmond on it   

I think the shift in public sentiment around Flock, particularly acute in the last couple of months, requires us to reevaluate our relationship with Flock. 

I don’t know exactly what that looks like right now, but I want to figure that out, together, with Richmonders, with our City Council, and with our partners in the State Legislature.  

I wanted to reassure you all that this is a topic I am thinking about regularly, and share with you a bit about how I'm thinking about this. 

Here are some things I believe:  

I believe that Flock, and automatic license plate reader – or ALPR -  technology in general, is a legitimately useful tool that the Richmond Police Department uses to help keep our communities safe and solve crimes. 

I believe that there are real privacy concerns with both ALPR technology generally and with Flock, Richmond’s current vendor 

I believe, in Richmond, the communities who actually benefit most from this technology are often those who are disproportionately impacted by violent crime. 

I believe that people of color can often be over-policed and over-surveilled. 

I believe that the City of Richmond, and RPD, have been leaders in adopting and following the guardrails set out by the Commonwealth 

I believe that, if we’re going to use this technology, we've got to have the proper guardrails in place, and we must be transparent with the public when those guardrails are violated. 

I believe that at the state level, the Commonwealth of Virginia is an important partner in protecting the privacy of residents. My team and I will continue to advocate for that at the General Assembly this year. 

And I believe this is a complex issue that people feel strongly about across the board. My job is to keep people safe, to listen well to our communities, and to navigate this thoughtfully.  

So here’s what I’m committing to do.  

First, we’re going to review the technology itself and our relationship with Flock. That includes exploring other options and asking whether there are other technology vendors that can provide the public safety benefits we need while better addressing the concerns some Richmonders have raised; we still have another year on the contract so I will need some time on that 

Second, we’re going to listen and learn.  In the coming weeks, I plan to gather resident feedback in a variety of forums. It’s important to me that we hear from a broad cross-section of Richmonders, as well as our elected City Council.  

Third, we will take another look at our oversight and transparency, including whether an independent third party should come in and look at our current policies and procedures.  

Fourth, effective immediately, I am directing that RPD reduce their ALPR data retention policy from its current 21 days down to 7 days. 

What I hear and learn in this listening process will inform our path forward.   

Appreciate you all taking the time to listen to this, more to come soon.   

The project is expected to generate renewable electricity for municipal operations and reduce the amount of electricity the City purchases from Dominion Energy. Based on preliminary projections, the installations are anticipated to produce approximately 7.75 GWh (7,750,000 kWh) annually and result in an estimated net energy costs savings of $19.4 million over 25 years. Final savings will depend on the engineered system design and the future pace of utility rate increases. 

“As a father, a pediatrician, and Mayor, I believe our local government has a responsibility to build a more sustainable Richmond for generations to come. I’m excited for the practical way this program helps us do our part to address the climate crisis, lower our energy costs, and be smart with taxpayer dollars. The due diligence that we've put into building this out over the past few months will be worth it," said Mayor Danny Avula. 

In addition to projected energy savings, the proposal supports the City’s broader efforts to improve the performance and resilience of its facilities. Investing in renewable energy at City-owned buildings can help reduce exposure to changing energy costs while demonstrating how municipal infrastructure can support long-term environmental and fiscal goals.

Aligning with Pillar 6 of the Mayor’s Action Plan (MAP), “A thriving and sustainable built environment planned for future generations” the proposed ordinances provide meaningful ways to support a more sustainable, resilient, and forward-looking city.

“This introduction represents a major milestone in the complex balance between lowering energy costs and ensuring appropriate protections for the City from unnecessary risks and liability,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “This legislation represents significant reduction in costs that would’ve ultimately been passed along to residents, as it offers us an opportunity to make strides toward our sustainability goals, while also giving us new grounds to demonstrate our commitment to continuous quality improvement.” 

The proposed ordinances also advance the goals of RVAgreen 2050, Richmond’s Climate Equity Action Plan, which establishes targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan identifies buildings and energy as a key pathway for improving energy efficiency, performance, and resilience.

“Exploring the installation of solar panels on these city-owned buildings represents an important opportunity to advance Richmond’s sustainability goals while taking a thoughtful look at the long-term value of our public assets, said Laura Thomas, Director of the Office of Sustainability. “By evaluating how renewable energy can be incorporated into our facilities, we can identify opportunities to reduce energy costs, strengthen resilience, create local clean energy jobs, and support a more sustainable future for our city. This potential project reflects our commitment to finding innovative solutions that benefit Richmond residents for years to come.”

The proposed installations remain subject to City Council consideration and approval, as applicable. Additional project details, including final site assessments, system capacity, implementation timelines, contracting arrangements, and projected financial savings, will be provided as the ordinance advances.

Good afternoon friends!

For most of my career as a public health doc, my charge was to improve the health and wellbeing of communities.  Over time, as we came to better understand what moves the needle on health outcomes, we focused our efforts on addressing the social determinants of health— things like access to quality education, stable living wage employment, family and community support systems, and housing and the built environment.

It was this broader understanding of health that ultimately compelled me to run for office, and on the campaign trail, where i spent 6 months spending every day talking to thousands of Richmond residents about what was important to them— the theme of neighborhoods and housing was central. 

Most pointedly, the challenge of housing affordability, as everyone-- from long-term generational residents of neighborhoods like mine, to college students, to middle aged working class families-- expressed how difficult it is getting for them to stay in the city.

Richmond has undoubtedly been on the rise over the past decade, and as a result, people from all over the country have discovered what we have all known for years about our city—that Richmond is an amazing place to live. 

All of that attention has led us to a housing crisis, as tens of thousands of new residents have found their way to Richmond.  The problem is that we haven’t built tens of thousands of new homes, and that has driven the cost of housing up precipitously.   

Back in January, I announced a comprehensive plan to address Richmond’s housing crisis built around two goals: more homes for more people and helping residents stay in their homes.

And when I look back over the last 7-8 months, I can see how, together, we’ve made some really remarkable progress.

• Working with City Council, we established predictable funding for the affordable housing trust fund, setting aside 2.5% of real estate tax revenue for the construction and preservation of more affordable housing for more people. 
• We continue to strengthen the administration of our anti-displacement tools, from owner-occupied home repair and rehabilitation programs to crisis-response funds to real estate tax relief for older adults and people with disabilities.
• And we are building a stronger, more resident-centered partnership with RRHA, including a new framework for the redevelopment of Gilpin Court that will serve as a template for how we will work together to accelerate redevelopment in ALL of our public housing communities.

Now, it is time to finalize another important piece of the work.  As we plan for the future of our city, it turns out that so much of what contributes to the health and wellbeing of a community-- safe and affordable housing, green space, making neighborhoods more walkable and bikeable, increasing access to mass transit-- is actually baked into the rules that a community creates to define the built environment-- our zoning code.

Our current zoning code was adopted in 1976, over 50 years ago. And for the decades prior to that, the zoning code was used very explicitly to keep people of color OUT of some neighborhoods and IN others. Our zoning code cemented much of the racial and socioeconomic segregation that we see across the city today- concentrating wealth in some communities, and poverty in others.

We’ve also seen how concentrating commercial, automotive and service business zoning to major corridors on the Southside has limited the kind of attractive, walkable, human-scale growth that we’ve seen in other parts of our city, further driving inequity.

The rules that govern how we design and build our city matter tremendously, and we are long overdue to write new ones. 

Listen, I get that the zoning code won’t make anyone’s top ten list of what they love about Richmond, but it is one of the most important tools we have to shape our growing city into a place where everyone can thrive.

It’s why Richmond 300, the city’s master plan adopted by our City Council back in 2020 after award-winning community engagement, explicitly names rewriting our zoning code as the first and most important of the six big moves Richmond must make to ensure that the future development of our city reflects our values and our shared vision.

So today, I am excited to release Version Three of Code Refresh — the update to our outdated zoning code which:

• Helps us build more homes for more people, so that as we welcome new neighbors, we’re protecting opportunities for longtime residents to stay. We have heard people say they want “density that makes sense.” And we totally agree. This version does this by: 
  • Encouraging increased density in nodes and along major transit corridors throughout the city.
  • Improving the existing ADU regulations by increasing the allowed size of ADUs to 1200 sq feet, while also requiring ADUs to better fit the context of the lot,
  • And by evenly distributing zoning districts across the City, spreading new development equitably.
• It helps us build connected, vibrant neighborhoods and a diverse economy by:
  • Allowing neighborhood-appropriate, small-scale office and retail uses to better connect neighbors to goods and services.
  • And by bringing existing homes and businesses into zoning compliance, actually legalizing the unique character that already exists in so many of our neighborhoods
• It helps us build beautiful communities that preserve the character of our existing neighborhoods and the distinct aesthetic that makes so many places in Richmond special by:
  • Maintaining existing City Old and Historic Districts to ensure the longevity of Richmond’s most architecturally significant neighborhoods
  • Establishing contextual heights, setbacks, and step-backs so new development better complements the existing built environment,
  • And by creating a framework for new Design and Demolition overlay districts, giving neighborhoods the ability to set development standards that are important to them.
• finally, it helps us build a sustainable city by:
  • expanding amazing parks and green spaces into every corner, by creating a new designation of open space zoning
  • establishing citywide vegetation space requirements, meaning no new parcel in the City can be developed without some percentage of green space.
  • Setting minimum tree canopy standards, which protects trees that are growing here today, and requires the planting of more trees to improve the city’s overall tree canopy,

The process to get to today’s launch of Draft Three of Code Refresh has been an exercise in listening well. This draft is better, because people engaged with it.

Across all nine council districts, through pop-ups, town halls, office hours, work sessions, public meetings, and conversations with everyone from long-time homeowners to renters to neighbors brand new to Richmond, we heard so many diverse perspectives — and that diversity of perspective allowed us to land on a set of thoughtful recommendations found in version 3.

I want to highlight a few really important examples:

• First, we heard residents’ concerns about the number of units that should be permitted by right in residential districts. As a result, this proposal maintains the “1+1” concept: the right for homeowners to have one primary dwelling and one attached or detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU). We are recommending improvements to the effectiveness of our ADU regulation by increasing the allowable size of the ADU to 1200 sq feet and adding contextual requirements. This is a change, but an incremental change that should allay concerns that Code Refresh will dramatically change the character of neighborhoods, while it creates a better solution that provides more housing options
• Second, we heard lots of concerns from Southside residents about new development in a part of our city that has retained more suburban zoning since it was annexed, and it has not received the investment needed to help integrate it into the city. The proposed updates allow more investment on corridors (in accordance with our master plan), while still requiring SUP’s for more intense development in neighborhoods.
• Third, special use permits and community involvement in our land-use decision-making are NOT going away, but they are getting right-sized. We want to make sure we’re not adding time and cost to projects that clearly fit the context of a neighborhood, but have just not yet made their way into our 50-year-old code.
• Fourth, we’ve corrected inequitable overzoning in historically African American communities, like Westwood, protecting some of our most resilient neighborhoods.

Getting here hasn’t been easy, but rigorous debate and challenging compromises are the essence of our democracy, and the hallmark of how I want our administration to lead Richmond forward.

And so, what we are proposing today is a result of listening well, making changes, and finding compromises.   

I am so grateful for the incredible amount of work by our PDR team, the ongoing engagement of our council members, and the time, input, and perspective thousands of residents have brought to the Code Refresh process. This work has been made better by your involvement.

So here it is! Draft 3!

I invite you to explore the code firsthand on our website: rva.gov/coderefresh. There’s been a lot of misinformation out there and this is important enough that you go and see for yourself what’s in the proposal.

We also will be launching our education campaign— there’s a lot of technical stuff in the zoning code, and so our teams will be distributing information, breaking it down, and answering questions at town halls and community events all over the city over the next couple of months.

Richmond, I’m asking for your support as we present this to City Council for their further discussion, consideration, and I hope ultimately, adoption.

Because this is a roadmap for a future Richmond that reflects our values and our shared vision -- more homes for more people, connected neighborhoods, beautiful communities, and a sustainably city built for generations to come.

Thank you.